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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR

Portability
86
Imaging
53
Features
81
Overall
64
Olympus PEN E-PL7 front
 
Olympus SZ-30MR front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
39
Overall
39

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Key Specs

Olympus E-PL7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Announced September 2014
  • Replaced the Olympus E-PL6
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL8
Olympus SZ-30MR
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Launched March 2011
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are built by Olympus. The image resolution of the E-PL7 (16MP) and the SZ-30MR (16MP) is relatively similar but the E-PL7 (Four Thirds) and SZ-30MR (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL7 was announced 3 years after the SZ-30MR which is quite a big gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus E-PL7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-30MR being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the E-PL7 matches up against the SZ-30MR with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL7 over the Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PL7 SZ-30MR 
LaunchedSeptember 2014March 2011More modern by 43 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1037k460kCrisper screen (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-30MR over the Olympus E-PL7

 SZ-30MR E-PL7 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SZ-30MR

 E-PL7 SZ-30MR 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Physical Comparison

In case you're going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-PL7 offers outer measurements of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-30MR has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the E-PL7 versus the SZ-30MR.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the E-PL7 and SZ-30MR is 86 and 89 respectively.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by reviewing technical specs. The image below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the E-PL7 and SZ-30MR.

As you can tell, both cameras have got the exact same MP albeit different sensor sizes. The E-PL7 includes the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow DOF easier. The newer E-PL7 provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SZ-30MR Portrait photography highlights
71
focusing manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus E-PL7
Street photography with Olympus SZ-30MR
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than others (226 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Sports photography info
Olympus SZ-30MR Sports photography info
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
no phase detect AF
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-30MR as a Travel photography camera
85
includes focus via touch
decent megapixels (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than others (226 grams)
decent megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL7 Landscape photography features
Olympus SZ-30MR Landscape photography features
79
focusing manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
41
really wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL7
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-30MR
78
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have mic port
34
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
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Olympus E-PL7 vs Olympus SZ-30MR Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL7 and Olympus SZ-30MR
 Olympus PEN E-PL7Olympus SZ-30MR
General Information
Brand Olympus Olympus
Model Olympus PEN E-PL7 Olympus SZ-30MR
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-09-01 2011-03-02
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip TruePic VII TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 25600 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 81 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT Hypercrystal III Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps)1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 357 grams (0.79 pounds) 226 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.4 not tested
DXO Low light score 873 not tested
Other
Battery life 350 images 220 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model BLS-50 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $499 $279